Interior Minister: No new security threats to Finland

Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen, who carries responsibility for police affairs, says that present information about shooting and bomb attacks Friday in Norway have no direct ties to Finland or the Finns. However, it will bring a reevaluation of security matters.

Image: YLE

"The situation is so shocking, that we here in Finland will also be discussing and evaluating our own security situation. However, there seems to be no special new threat to Finnish society because of events in Norway," said Räsänen.

The Interior Minister did, though, note that those events also give rise to concerns about threats related to extremist movements in Finland.

According to Räsänen, talks will be held within her ministry immediately after the start of the week to discuss Finland's security situation. She was scheduled to hold discussions on the situation with Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen on Saturday.

"The shocking nature of the events in Norway is further sharpened by the fact that young people and children, as well as the political system and civil society were targeted," Päivi Räsänen continued.

She also said that the reaction by Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg was the correct one: threats and violence cannot be allowed to restrict freedom of speech and political action.

Päivi Räsänen also expressed her deeply felt condolences to those affected by the attacks in Norway.

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